Deception is one of the most toxic problems to a Christian’s faith and their walk with the Lord. “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:1-6).

It’s easy to be deceived if you haven’t kept up with Bible study. Seeking the wisdom of God is the only way to know God’s truth and not be deceived by the lies of Satan. There are many lies out there, and it’s easy to be confused if you don’t have a solid foundation built upon the word of God. There are many people who profess to be Christians but are deceived in their teaching. Many cults call themselves Christian but don’t teach Biblical truth. The only way to guard against deception is to study Scripture and earnestly pray for discernment.

Every Christian must, first and foremost, honor God with their lives. That means turning away from the world. When it comes to a choice between the ways of the world and the way of the Lord, choose wisely. Only Scripture, studied in its entirety, will keep you from being deceived. “NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

We live in a time when it’s easy to turn on the TV or look on the internet and find many people who speak words that sound good but are in direct opposition to God’s word. God has never changed, and He never will change. Satan wants you to turn from God, and he will befuddle you with half-truths and outright lies in his effort to draw you away from God. Satan is darkness, but Jesus is the Light of the World.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

In order to understand the Light of God, study His word. Pray for wisdom, and the Holy Spirit living in you will open God’s truth to your understanding. Whenever you listen to a Bible teacher, a preacher, or a commentator, look to Scripture in order to test their words.

When a person first comes to a saving knowledge of Christ, they cannot possibly have the wisdom that comes from God. A babe in Christ must be fed on the truth of Scripture. Then that person must change their life to fit God’s ways rather than changing God’s words to fit their lifestyles. All Christians must desire to please God.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever” (Psalm 111:10).

God’s truth is found in Scripture, from the first verse in Genesis to the last verse in Revelation. Don’t skip reading the Old Testament because you think that only the New Testament matters to a Christian. In His first incarnation, Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Law and many, many prophecies; He will fulfill all other prophecies very soon when He returns. All Scripture is God-breathed, and we need to understand what’s written there and learn God’s truth. God’s standards are shown to us by the Law, which required works in order to please God. Jesus did fulfill the Law, and His blood was shed for the once-for-all sacrifice for our sin. All who believe in Him will find salvation.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

Because of that grace, our sins are forgiven, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t desire to please God. Our way of living needs to conform to God’s truth rather than the ways of the world. Don’t be deceived by false prophets who speak satanic lies. God doesn’t want anyone to be deceived.

“He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly” (Proverbs 2:7).

Wisdom is found in God’s word, while deceit is found in the ways of the world.

Wisdom comes from God. The question is, how do you get wisdom? First, desire it, and then ask God. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).

God doesn’t want anyone to be deceived by false teachers, but He won’t force His wisdom upon anyone. If you love Him, you should desire to know His ways. He will give you a foundation of knowledge of His word, and you need to build your life on the ways of God. You can’t please God by living a double life… professing your love for Him while living a sinful life.

“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8).

Don’t deceive yourself into thinking that there are special circumstances in your life that make your sin OK with God. We must move away from sin and not try to justify our life-choices by using a double standard. Many people will try to deceive you, but you can’t please God by living contrary to His word.

We are living in the last days. That’s a fact, but it’s another area that you can easily be deceived about if you haven’t studied prophecy. The urgency of spreading God’s truth to the unsaved has never been stronger. Everyone must hear the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ before death, but as the last days of earth’s history are rapidly approaching, there’s a double urgency to spread the Gospel. The deception of false teachers is evidence that time is short. Jesus said deception will get stronger as time comes to an end.

“And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them” (Luke 21:8).

It’s up to you to be sure that you don’t fall for deception. There are many lies that are passed off as Christianity, such as Mormonism, but their teachings are in direct opposition to Scripture. One of the worst lies that Satan spews is that all paths lead to heaven. Search the Scriptures to see for yourself that faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross is the only way to salvation. Don’t be deceived, and be sure you have answers to defend your faith.

The Apostle Paul had some wise words for a young pastor named Timothy. He urged Timothy to stand firm on the truth he had been taught and not be deceived by the evil people who tried to deceive believers even in those days.

“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:13-15).

Timothy had been taught Scripture since childhood, and Paul urged him not to waiver from the truth of God’s word. If you’re tempted to follow a teacher who supports a “name it and claim it” theology, or “all roads lead to heaven,” or “Jesus and Satan are brothers,” get away quick before you are deceived by their lies. Study Scripture and let God’s word be the lamp that lights your ways.

Don’t be deceived about the times in which we live. The end is coming quickly. Many people say that every generation thought they were the last, but these people haven’t studied prophecy and speak in ignorance.

There are some end-time lies that are very deceptive. Some would have you believe that Christians have replaced Israel. That’s a lie. God’s covenant with Abraham was forever, and an honest study of Daniel’s end-times prophecy will teach you that those last days are about Israel returning to God and recognizing Jesus as their Messiah.

Some would have you believe that God will have Christians go through the Tribulation or at least part of it. That’s a lie. You can study Revelation to see that Christians are not on earth during Daniel’s 70th week. We are called to Heaven at the beginning of Revelation chapter 4 and are in Heaven in chapters 4 and 5. Chapter 6 and the following chapters describe the seven years of the Great Tribulation, at the end of which the nation of Israel will call on Jesus as their Messiah.

Some deceived teachers see the Tribulation Saints (those who come to faith in Jesus during those final 7 years) as a part of the Ekklesia. Those brave believers will have come to faith after the Rapture and will face death unless they deny Christ.

Deception has always been strong, but there will come a time when God will have had enough of our rebellious nature and will send a strong delusion.

“And for this cause God shall send them a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).

We can see that people are ripe for deception today. I’ve often wondered how people will so easily be deceived, but as I’ve watched the deception during the last few years in American history and the fiasco and deception in the last Presidential election, I can see that gullible people who have no firm foundation in Christ are easily swayed to believe anything that the satanically fueled proponents of liberal politics, media censorship, and the one world order say. Some of the deceived even call themselves Christians.

Be sure that you’re not one of those who believe lies and are deceived. Turn off the TV, put down the video games, get off the phone, and pick up your Bible. Study Scripture. The only way to guard against deception is to study, believe, and live God’s word.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

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 I am having computer troubles that are making writing a commentary this week almost impossible. Instead of writing a new one, I went through some old ones that were written by my husband, Ron Graham. Ron died in March 2013, and I can tell you he was a Christian Soldier right to the end. This commentary is as true today as it was when he wrote it. Ron loved Jesus, and that love guided his life.

Christian Soldiers

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:3-4).

“Onward Christian Soldiers” is a stirring song, which calls us to battle. The words were written by Sabine Baring-Gould in 1865, and it has been a favorite marching song ever since. Let’s take a look at that call to action.

“Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; forward into battle see His banners go!”

I would like to thank each and every one of you brave Christians who have put on a military uniform. I pray along with so many others that God’s hand will protect you. There are also many Christian soldiers around the world who are battling and dying, but they are not in uniform. By this I mean those who are in God’s army and stand up for Jesus Christ without concern for their own well-being. They are brave warriors who are neither afraid nor ashamed to speak about our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, no matter what persecution they may face.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

Each and every Christian needs to be stouthearted and bold in our witness for Christ, whether or not what we say in a public setting might be considered hate speech. Today it is becoming more and more treacherous to stand for Christ, and those brave soldiers in countries where Christianity is banned will be rewarded by God for their stand for Christ. Christian, there is a war raging all around us. We need to prepare for battle against the unseen enemy of all humanity by knowing that Jesus Christ leads the battle.

“At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the sound of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.”

The truth is Satan has already lost the battle. He was defeated at the cross of Calvary. Jesus won, and Christians need to remember that victory.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Soldiers are known for standing firm for the commander who gives them their marching orders. In the military, men are taught to fight the enemy without fear of their own death. Soldiers are taught to overcome their fear early in their training, and very few go A.W.O.L. Our Commander, Jesus Christ, also taught his disciples early on that fear is not to be a concern for those following him.

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).

“Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.”

When we look around at the various buildings with labels like, “United Methodist,” “First Baptist,” “Second Baptist,” “Southern Baptist,” “Lutheran” and so forth, it seems as if the army of Christian soldiers is divided. It is true that there are doctrines in each congregation that seem to separate the Christian Ekklesia, but “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into One Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).

We are unified in Christ. He is our commander and the leader of this army of Christian soldiers. Many saints have followed Him into this spiritual battle, and we who are living today follow where they have trod. Christ will not fail!

“What the saints established that I hold for true.
What the saints believed, that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,
Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.”

We are very blessed today to have God’s written truth – the Holy Bible. In it we read of the world prior to Christ’s coming. The history of the Jewish nation and the promise of the coming Messiah are contained in the Old Testament, which is a written record of God’s plan. When Christ walked this earth, He fulfilled all of the prophecies concerning His first Advent, and He only asks us to believe.

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

Peter proclaimed Jesus was the Messiah. Do we proclaim that truth today, or do we shrink away from taking a stand for our Lord? As Christians we need to stand firm in our faith. The twelve men who followed Jesus were willing to face death rather than deny Christ. John was not martyred but faced imprisonment on many occasions. Judas was a turncoat who ultimately committed suicide and was replaced in the group by Mathias, who was martyred. Throughout history, faithful men and women have faced torture and death because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

Today is no different. Around the world, many Christians are being imprisoned, tortured, and killed because they will not renounce Jesus. Their belief in Him is strong, and they will not compromise. If they are killed for their faith, it is only their body that dies.

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).

Brethren, keep Christ first in your life. Don’t be ashamed of Him.

“Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never ‘gainst the church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.”

Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against Satan and his minions.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).

On our own we would be lost, and the battle would be won by the enemy. These rulers of darkness seem strong, and all manner of evil looms around us and seems to be growing stronger by the day. Make no mistake about it; Christ will prevail. Each day we battle with these principalities and rulers of darkness, but as Christian soldiers we have the promise from Jesus that even the gates of hell will not prevail against His Ekklesia.

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

What rock is Jesus talking about? Certainly, He isn’t talking about Simon Peter as some mistakenly believe. The rock that Christ spoke about was Simon Peter’s declaration that Jesus is the Christ.

“Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.”

The battle still rages, but the invitation is there for everyone to join our army of believers. There will come a time, however, when the Christian soldiers, an army of born-again believers in Jesus Christ, will be raptured and Christ’s Ekklesia will be taken Home. That time is drawing near. Brethren, do you know someone who needs to come to know Christ? Do not delay telling them about Christ. Invite everyone you know to join us in singing the praises of our Lord and King, Jesus the Christ.

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:25).

Paul was in prison, yet he sang praises unto God. Not only was he in prison, but he had also been beaten and locked in stocks. In spite of his misery, he still sang praises to God. When the battle doesn’t seem to be going your way, do you get discouraged and pout, or do you sing praises unto God? Paul’s example to the prisoners and to the jailer resulted in many people coming to know Christ as their Savior.

Whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, we need to be an example of Christ’s love to people around us by making choices that honor Christ instead of paying homage to our enemy. Our example just might be the difference between them making the choice to accept Christ or choosing to die in their sin and spending eternity in hell.

Christian, we are at war. Our Commander knows this and has made armor available for us for our protection, and each soldier needs to be skilled in using it.

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:13-18).

Brethren, the battle rages all around us, and every piece of our armor must be in place. We have marching orders from our Leader. Will we obey those orders and fight the good fight, or will we go A.W.O.L.? Jesus has called us to action, and we must respond.

“Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.”

We know that Christ will win the victory in this battle, but He needs Christian soldiers standing fast and fighting strong.

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

God bless you all,

Ron Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

This commentary was started by Ron Graham before his death on March 14, 2013, and finished by his wife, Nathele Graham.